Tractor hitch bracket



Feb 22, 1949. CURRIE TRACTOR HITCH BRACKET Filgd July 3, 1946 INVENTOR. fluga/a C urr/e BY 6M Patented Feb. 22, 1949 2,462,726

UNITED STATES ATENT FHCE TRACTOR HITCH BRACKET Dugald Currie, Des Moines, Iowa, assignor to Donald Currie, Odebolt, Iowa Application July 3, 1946, Serial No. 681,319 4 Claims. (Cl. 280-3344) This invention relates generally to tractor The frame structure 6 comprises a pair of rearhitches and in particular. to a hitch attachment wardly extended. diverging arms l having their for a tractor provided with what is commonly refront ends pivoted at 8 to opposite sides of a ferred to as the Ferguson system for connecting di ferential housing 9 constituting part of a rear farm implements with the tractor. .5 axle housing H. Connected between the rear ,In one. form of the Ferguson system a transends of the frame members i is a drawbar l2 verse drawbar is generally supported an appre-- having reduced ends I3 extended through-the ciable distance behind the tractor rear axle hous- 'frame members i. The draw-bar 8'2 is maining and between the rear ends of a pair of transtained in an assembly relation with the members versely spaced frame members, the forward ends 10 l by tapered keys M projected through the .of which are pivoted on the tractor rear axle. As ends it. .a result when a farm implement is hitched to the Pivotally connected to opposite ends 1 of the drawbar much difliculty is encountered in makdrawbar i2 are a pair of brace bars Hi, the ,ing turns at the end of afield, when working forward ends of which are pivoted at H to a plowed or loose ground, due to the fact that the v 5 rack arm l8 which in turn is pivoted at l9 to implement does not closely track behind the an upright projection 2! on the differential houstractor. Attempts to overcome this difiiculty 'ing pair of upright lifting arms 22lhave their lower ends pivotally connected at 23 to corresponding ones of the frame members 1, v while the upper ends of the lifting arms 22 are have not been generally satisfactory and have resulted in hitch attachments which are relati complicated and difficult to remove from a assemble with the Ferguson system, or in operaoperatively connected with crank arms 24 rotattion provide for the application of pulling forces ably supported in a portion 25 of the tractor. The on parts of this system not intended or designed crank arms a l are operatively associated with to carry such forces. lifting mechanism (not shown) for raising and It is anobject of this invention, therefore, to 25 lowering the lifting arms 22. provide an improved tractor hitch. In the use of the hitch attachment 5 of this A further object of this invention is to provide invention the frame structure 6 is maintained a hitchlattachment which can be quickly and stationary so that the lifting arms. 22 constitute easily assembled on a tractor provided with the upright frame members. Ferguson system. The hitch attachment comprises a. transverse A feature of this invention is found in the promember 2?. of a substantially rectangular shape vision of a hitch attachmentlin which a pair of cross section, and formed with a rearwardly brackets are adapted to be permanently assemcurved or bent central section .28 to provide a bled at opposite sides of a frame structure eX-' clearance relation between the member 27 and the tended rearwardly from the tractor. Socket porusual can 25 for the tractor power take-off shaft tions on the brackets are adapted to releasably 3!. A bolt 3?; is extended through the rear end of receive therein and hold against relative move the curved section 28 and pivotally su ports the ment the end portions of a transverse member, forward end of a hitch bar at the bottom which has a hitch bar pivoted intermediate its side of the transverse member 2?. An upright ends, inverted U-shaped bracket member 55'; carried Further objects. features and advantages of adjacent the rear end of the hitch bar 33 is this invention will appear from the following adapted to straddle the transverse drawbar [2 description when taken in connection with the and rotatablv support a roller 36 in a spaced accompanying drawings in which: relation with the top side of the hitch bar Fig. 1 is a fragmentary'exploded perspective To support the transverse member 21 on the view of the hitch attachment of this invention; frame structure 5. there is provided a pair of and bracket members mountable on the inside of Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the hitch the frame members I and adapted to relea-sably attachment in assembly relation with the rear engage and support the end portions 38 of the end portion of a tractor. 5 transverse member 2'! in fixed positions on the With reference to the drawings the hitch atstructure. Since each bracket 31 of a tachment' of this invention, indicated generally like construction and similarly assembled with as 5, is illustrated in Fig. 2 in assembly relation an end of the transverse memberZ'l, only one with a frame structure 5 supported on tracof the brackets will be described in detail.

forming part'of the usual-Ferguson system. A bracket 3? is integrally formed with a-substantially fiat body member 35 having a tapered outer side 39 conforming to the slope of the rearward divergence of :a frame member E, so that when the bracket outer side 39 is positioned against the inner side of a frame member i, the inner side ill of the bracket member is in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tractor. Projected outwardly from the inner side 4! of the body member 35 is a U-shaped member 22 having a leg d3 formed with a rearwardly extended lateral projection 44. The U- shaped member 42, projection 45 and inner side 4| of the body member 35 constitute a socket of a size and shape corresponding substantially to an end portion 33 of the transverse member. Stated otherwise, an end portion 38, in position within the U member 42, is supported on the base of the U member against forward and rearward movement longitudinally of the frame member I by the U member legs 23 and Q5, against straight upward movement by the projection 64, and against movement in one direction transversely of the frame member 1 by the bracket inner side M. The free end of the projection 44 is spaced from the inner side of the U member leg 45 a distance to provide for the reception of an end portion 38 within the socket, when such portion 38 is in a sidewise position and inserted in a downward and forward direction through the space or opening G6 at the top of the U member 32.

In the assembly of the hitch attachment 5 with the frame structure 6 the brackets 3'! are mounted opposite each other on the frame members l, and to the inside of the frame members i, by clamp members ll arranged on the outer sides of the frame members I, and bolts 48 extended through aligned openings formed in the opposite ends of the clamping plates 4'! and the bracket body members 35. As best appears in Fig. 2, the brackets 31 are positioned forwardly of the upright lift arms 22' of the frame structure 6.

With the brackets 31 mounted on the frame members I the ends 38 of the transverse member 21 are received within the U members 42, by inclining the hitch attachment 5 in a downwardly and forwardly direction so that the ends 33 are inserted sidewise within the openings 46 and underneath the projections 43. The hitch attachment, with the ends 38 of the transverse member 21 within the U members 42, is then lowered into a substantially horizontal plane so that the hitch bar 33 rests on the top side of the drawbar l2.

One of the pins [4 is then removed from the drawbar l2 and the frame member 7 corresponding to such pin is sprung a distance away from the corresponding end l3 of the drawbar l2 a distance suificient to receive the bracket member 34 therethrough. The free end [3 of the drawbar I2 is then inserted within the bracket 34 between the hitch bar 33 and the roller 35. The sprung frame member I is then reassembled with the free end of the drawbar 12. The rear end of the hitch bar 33 is thus movably supported, through the roller 35, for swinging movement longitudinally of the drawbar l2 concurrently with being maintained in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the drawbar.

With the movable support of the rear end of the hitch bar 33 on the drawbar l2 the hitch attachment 5, including the drawbar 33 and the transverse member 21, is held against any upward and forward tilting movement such as would incline the transverse member 21 to a position providing for the release of the ends 38 thereof from the U members 42 through the openings 46. As a result the ends 38 are held by the projections 46 against upward movement out of their corresponding sockets, while the legs 43 and of the U members 32 limit the movement of the transverse member ends 38 in opposite directions longitudinally of the frame members i. It is apparent, of course, that the transverse member 21 is maintained against movement transversely of the frame structure 6 by the engagement of its ends 38 with the inner sides 4| of the bracket body members 35.

It is seen, therefore, that the hitch bar is pivotally supported for swinging movement at a position adjacent the rear side of the axle housing H and forwardly of the drawbar l2. By virtue of this pivotal support of the hitch bar any farm implement connected therewith is capable of a proper tracking with the tractor when sharp or close turns are to be negotiated. It is also apparent that to assemble the hitch attachment 5 with the frame structure 3 it is only necessary to remove a single pin M to permit the insertion of the drawbar ii. within the bracket member 34 and that the removed pin is immediately replaced on completion of this assembly. A complete assembly can be accomplished in the matter of a few minutes without the requirement for bolts or nuts which might be lost or readily misplaced. It is also to be noted that after .an initial clamping of the bracket members 3'! on the frame members I, that these brackets may be left permanently attached on the frame members 1 without interfering in any way with a normal operation of the Ferguson system of which the frame structure '5 forms a part.

Further the support of the ends 38 of the transverse member 2'! within the sockets on the bracket members 3'i provides for the pulling force on the hitch bar 33 being applied to the rear legs 43 of the U members 42, and then through the frame member '5 to the rear axle housing II, which members are easily capable of safely carrying this pulling force.

From a consideration of the above description,

therefore, it is seen that the invention provides a hitch attachment for tractors which is of a simple and inexpensive construction, easily and quickly attachable with the tractor with a minimum of effort and time, capable of providing for a proper tracking of a farm implement with a, tractor, and adapted to be connected with a tractor rear axle housing through a pair of rearwardly extended frame members.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since modifications and changes can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hitch attachment for a tractor having an axle housing, a frame structure supported on the tractor including a pair of transversely spaced rearwardly extended frame members connected at their forward ends with said axle housing, and a drawbar connected between the rear ends of said frame members, said attachment comprising a pair of oppositely arranged brackets mounted on said frame members, socket portions on said brackets located inwardly of said frame, members, a transverse member having its ends receivable in supported positions within said socket portions, and against longitudinal movement relative to said frame members, a hitch bar pivoted at its forward end on said transverse member for pivotal movement between said frame members, and means movably supporting said hitch bar adjacent its rear end on said drawbar.

2. A hitch attachment for a tractor comprising a transverse frame member having end portions of a substantially rectangular shape in cross section, a pair of mountable bracket members for supporting said end portions, with each of said bracket members having socket portions corresponding substantially in size and shape to said end portions, with said socket portions having entrance openings for receiving said end portions sidewise therethrough, pivot means extended through said transverse member with its axis normal to the wider sides of said end portions, and a hitch bar pivoted at one end on said pivot means.

3. A hitch attachment for a tractor having an axle housing, a frame structure supported on the tractor including a pair of transversely spaced rearwardly extended frame members connected at their forward ends with said axle housing, and a drawbar connected between the rear ends of said frame members, said attachment comprising a pair of brackets mounted opposite each other on said frame members, and having flat body portions adapted to be positioned against the inner sides of said frame members, inwardly extended upright U-shape portions on said body portions, with one of the legs on said U portions having projections adjacent their free ends ex tended toward the other one of said legs, a transverse member having end portions of a substantially rectangular shape in cross section receivable sidewise between the legs of said U-portions, and movable within said U portions so that a Wide side thereof is supported on the base of the U portions, whereby said projections retain said end portions against straight upward movement out of said U portions and said legs limit the movement of said end portions longitudinally of said frame members, a hitch bar pivoted at its forward end on said transverse member for pivotal movement between said frame members, and means movably supporting said hitch bar adjacent its rear end on said drawbar.

4. A hitch attachment for a tractor having an axle housing, a frame structure supported on the tractor including a pair of transversely spaced rearwardly extended frame members connected at their forward ends with said axle housing, and a drawbar connected between the rear ends of said frame members, said attachment comprising a pair of brackets mounted oppositely from each other on said frame members and having inwardly extended lateral projections, means for releasably locking the ends of said transverse member in supported positions on said projections against upward movement and movement longitudinally and transversely of said frame members, a hitch bar pivoted at its forward end on said transverse member for pivotal movement between said frame member, and means movably supporting the hitch bar adjacent its rear end on said drawbar.

DUGALD CURRIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,715,682 Starks June 4, 1929 2,392,903 Currie Jan. 15, 1946 

